Piano tuning time signal

ABSTRACT

An interval timer for a piano comprising a liquid-holding container reciprocably mounted in a frame. A wick is inserted in the container to aid in the evaporation of the liquid. After a predetermined time the lightened container is vertically shifted causing the rotation of a signal shaft to indicate a given time lapse.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Kirk Lightbourne [56] References Cited 'Ihomas Road, Scottsdale, Anz. UNITED STATES PATENTS RObftS [22] Filed July 13, 1970 2,064,759 l2/l936 Koester 58/144 [45] pmemed July 27,197] 3,101,587 8/1963 Patrick 58/144 Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wa] AnomeyWarren F. B. Lindsley [54] PIANQ TUNING TIME SIGNAL 4 chums 5 Drawing ABSTRACT: An interval timer for a piano comprising a [52] US. Cl 58/1 R, liquid-holding container reciproeably mounted in a frame. A 58/144, 84/453 wick is inserted in the container to aid in the evaporation of [5 1] Int. Cl G04f 1/00, the liquid. After a predetermined time the lightened container G041" 1 1/00 is vertically shifted causing the rotation of a signal shaft to in- [50] field of Search 58/1, 144 dicate a given time lapse.

ATENTED JUL 27 I971 INVEN'TQR. KIRK LIGHTBOURNE M fiT/f.

ATTORNEY PIANO TUNING TIME SIGNAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for reminding the owner of a piano that it is time to tune the instrument. The device provides a startling and continuous remainder of this fact until it is reset. I

1. Field of the Invention This invention is particularly directed to a device which is calibrated to time the distance between piano tuning and provides a positive notice of the passage of a predetermined time.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, piano tuning was done when the instrument was sufficiently out of tune that it could be noticed by the ear of the player or listener. At other times the owner or user of a piano would call the tuner when he thought of it, usually after the instrument has been out of tune for quite awhile. Occasionally, the piano tuner servicing a given piano would phone or write when sufficient time has lapsed so that the instrument needed tuning. This action was not always favorably received.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed a new and improved device is provided for indicating time lapse between tuning of a piano by a device associated with the piano which provides a starting positive reminder of this fact.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a new and improved device for measuring time lapse.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device for use with pianos which indicates by a positive showing that a given time has elapsed since the last tuning to warrant calling the piano tuner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a time lapse measuring device which can be calibrated to indicate one of a number of various time periods.

A still further object of this invention to provide an improved nonelectrical measuring device relying on evaporation of a liquid for measuring time.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an economical to operate, simple to manufacture, time lapse measuring device which may be used by the piano tuners.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterizes this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a flag mounted shaft raised from behind an object such as a piano after elapse of a given time by a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the structure shown in FIGS. I3 and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 line 5-5.

taken along the DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIGS. l--5 disclose a time lapse measuring device comprising a frame 11 for holding and supporting in an upright vertical position a bottle or other suitable liquid supporting container 12. Container 12 is supported on a shelf 13 comprising hinged arms 13 and 13''. Arm 13" of shelf 13 is biased by a spring 14 from a first arcuate position shown in FIG. 5 where the hinged arms are separated by an angle a to a second position where the hinged arms are separated by a smaller angle b.

Spring 14 has one end attached to a crossarm 15 extending laterally across the vertically standing frame 11 and the other end attached to an arm 16 which extends laterally from a rotating shaft 17. Shaft 17 is rotatively mounted in frame 11 in a horizontal position below shelf 13 and biased by spring 14 to rotate clockwise as shown in FIG. 5. A U-shaped arm extending laterally from shaft 17 is biased by spring 14 and shaft 17 into contact with the underside of shelf arm 13" causing a reciprocally mounted shaft 21 vertically arranged to extend from shelf arm 13 through an aperture 22 in shelf arm 13' to adjacent the the underside of container 12 to bias container 12 vertically upward.

Thus, spring 14 biases shaft 17 in a direction to cause U- shaped arm 20 to move the container 12 upwardly. If container I2 is heavy enough because ofits contents to overcome the bias ofspring 14 it will remain in its lowervertical position. As it is lightened it will move vertically upward.

Fastcned to shaft 17 and extending laterally therefrom is an arm 23. Arm 23 is arranged to extend in a substantially vertical position so that its free end lies adjacent the top of frame 11. At the top of arm 23 is a laterally extending catch 24.

Pivotally mounted on the top of frame 11 is an L-shaped flag staff 25. Flag staff 25 is mounted to rotate around a leg 27 such that its arc of movement is substantially perpendicular to the arc of movement of arm 23. Staff 25 is biased to extend in a vertical position by a spring 26. Spring 26 has one end secured to frame 11 and the other end secured to leg 27 of staff 25. To leg 27 of staff 25 is secured a catch 28 which is arranged to cooperate with catch 24 on arm 23 so that staff 25 may be restrained from moving to its vertical position by the catch 24 on arm 23. As arm 23 is rotated by shaft 17 catch 24 on arm 23 moves out of engagement with catch 28 on staff 25 and staff 25 snaps to its vertical position under the biasing action of spring 26 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

On the free end of staff 25 may be placed a sign, business card or the like means 30 indicating that it is time to tune the piano 3] on which it is mounted.

In order to control the weight of container 12 by systematically changing the level of the liquid in it, a suitable wick 32 is inserted in a neck 33 of container 12. Any evaporation of the liquid in container 12 will occur through evaporation of the liquid from the wick outside of the neck of the container. The liquid in container 12 may be methel ethyl keytone mixed with water in a suitable portion.

As is readily noted the disclosed device may be mounted behind a piano, requires no electrical connections and its cost of operation is nil since the only thing used to keep it in operation is a small amount of methel ethyl keytone mixed with water.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and claimed it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for measuring time comprising:

a frame,

a substantially horizontally mounted shelf on said frame,

a liquid-holding container having a portion of one end open and mounted on said shelf,

a liquid of a predetermined amount in said container a first shaft rotatively mounted below said shelf and biased for rotating in a given direction, said first shaft having a protrusion extending laterally therefrom for biasing said container substantially vertically in said frame upon rotation of said shaft under the influence of said biasing means and a first arm extending laterally therefrom for movement therewith, said first arm having a first catch arranged at its free end,

a second shaft pivotally mounted on said frame for rotation in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first arm and biased to rotate to a given position, said second shaft having a second catch at its free end,

ranged to extend partly within and partly without said container for aiding in the evaporation of the liquid within said container.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said second shaft is provided with indicia on its free end.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said liquid comprises water containing methel ethyl keytone. 

1. A device for measuring time comprising: a frame, a substantially horizontally mounted shelf on said frame, a liquid-holding container having a portion of one end open and mounted on said shelf, a liquid of a predetermined amount in said container a first shaft rotatively mounted below said shelf and biased for rotating in a given direction, said first shaft having a protrusion extending laterally therefrom for biasing said container substantially vertically in said frame upon rotation of said shaft under the influence of said biasing means and a first arm extending laterally therefrom for movement therewith, said first arm having a first catch arranged at its free end, a second shaft pivotally mounted on said frame for rotation in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first arm and biased to rotate to a given position, said second shaft having a second catch at its free end, said first and second catches being positioned to interlock when said container contains a given amount of liquid and to disengage when said container through evaporation contains a lesser predetermined amount, said first shaft upon said container reaching said lesser predetermined amount rotating said first arm to cause said catches to disengage and said second shaft to rotate to said given position.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein a wick is arranged to extend partly within and partly without said container for aiding in the evaporation of the liquid within said container.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said second shaft is provided with indicia on its free end.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said liquid comprises water containing methel ethyl keytone. 